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RadioGuessr is a fun game where you listen to live radio streams from around the world and guess their location on a 3D globe.
If you get stuck trying to guess, you can get a hint of either language, city, or region to narrow down your results. This is a fun way to explore international music. One wish for this app is to provide a link to radio station's website if you want to keep listening.
📻 Play the game at radioguessr.sparshdev.space
Post your top score in the comments!
The game was created by Sparsh — a software developer in Lucknow (sparshdev.space)
Ian, thanks for sharing! This is a super fun way of integrating not only immersion of new music but also knowledge of such! My father used to play a 'trivia' game with me while I was growing up; he would play only 10 seconds of a song and then ask me to guess the title or artist (or both). Thanks to this lifelong game, I was frequently called "the human jukebox" among friends and coworkers. The little moments that are seemingly insignificant can actually prove to be quite significant when they compile over time!
There's a great game on Alexa devices ("play music quiz") that does exactly that, you would be a champion at it!
Montenegro is missing out on a massive and growing market: an estimated 46 million pet-inclusive trips happen in the EU every year, yet travelers with dogs increasingly choose other destinations — citing safer streets and more visible kindness toward animals.
Stray dog management isn't just a welfare issue. It affects public health, community trust, repeat visitation, and increasingly, EU accession requirements. NGOs across the Western Balkans are doing vital work, but they're underfunded and under-supported.
We'd love to hear from you as travel professionals:
1. How much does pet-friendliness (including stray animal treatment) influence your travel choices or client recommendations?
2. Have you ever avoided a destination because of how it treats stray animals?
Your experiences can help turn this into real industry momentum for change. 🐾
PS: The Montenegro Travel Massive is getting behind Dancing For The Dogs — an international charity music event on 13th June in Ulcinj raising funds for sterilisation, adoptions, and on-the-ground NGO work. Details: www.dancingforthedogs.me
I think it's important. I love the way Greece is handling the stray cats. They are being sterilized and marked on the ears.
Our hiking clients come mainly from the US and Canada, and we're feeling a significant drop in bookings this summer compared to previous years.
Curious whether other operators running European tours with a North American client base are seeing the same thing? And what you're doing about it.
Sitting tight, pivoting to European markets, changing your marketing? Would love to hear what your experience and how you're handling it.
Hi everyone,
I'm Nick, the founder of Wales.org.
I wanted to share something I've been working on for quite a while now that I think (hope) you will find useful.
It's an open-source interactive map of Wales with over 1,960 hand-picked locations across 18 filterable categories — castles, beaches, hiking trails, hidden pubs, dog-friendly walks, food and drink and I've built it to be embedded on travel sites without it competing with their businesses.
The bit that took the most thought was how to make it partner-safe?
The version on wales.org has affiliate links in pin popups (Viator for experiences, HolidayCottages.co.uk for stays). That's how we monetise.
But the moment the map embedded I realised that a holiday cottage operator in Pembrokeshire embedding our map on their site would be putting competitor affiliate links on their own listing pages. Same for any experience-day provider vs. the Viator buttons. Nobody with sense would embed that!
So the embed automatically detects context:
On wales.org the full version have the affiliate links visible (we earn commission)
In an iframe on a partner site the affiliate buttons are hidden, only the "Designed by Wales.org" URL at the bottom remains = partner-safe behaviour.
Detection is via `window.self !== window.top` plus a URL-path check. No configuration needed from anyone embedding it. There's also a CSS fallback to hide affiliate buttons even if the JavaScript ever fails — belt-and-braces partner safety!
The result?
For example, a Welsh cottage operator can now embed our map on their listings page and it won't redirect their customers to any of our affiliates. A tour provider can embed it on their experiences page and it won't push visitors to Viator. The designed by Wales.org link stays because that's the legitimate quid pro quo of free use and they give the host site valuable contextual content for visitors.
Build details (for the curious):
- Leaflet + Leaflet.markercluster, vanilla JS, no framework, no build step
- 1,963 pins held as static JS — no API calls on page load
- Three data layers: 170 handcrafted, 664 Google Places verified venues, 1,129 additional Google-verified pins
- Standalone HTML at `wales.org/embed/` that bypasses WordPress entirely — so the embed isn't affected by CMS updates, plugin conflicts or theme changes
- Open-source under MIT — fork it for your region
- Mobile-first popup and filter UI, fully keyboard-navigable
What I'd love from this community:
1. Try the embed.
If you run a travel site, blog or DMO and want to give your readers a richer "places to visit" tool than Google My Maps, grab the iframe from `wales.org/embed/`. Click pins on your test page and verify for yourself that the affiliate buttons stay hidden. Free with attribution.
2. Fork it for your region.
The architecture is location-agnostic — swap the pin data, re-centre the map, and you've got an interactive map of Cornwall, the Highlands, the Lake District, Provence, Tuscany or wherever you may be. If you do this, drop me a line — I'd love to see regional forks happen!
3. Tell me what's missing.
If you've worked on travel maps before and there's an obvious feature gap, a cleaner way to do something or a tourism use case the partner-safe behaviour should cover that it doesn't yet.
👉 Live demo: wales.org/interactive-map-wales/
🗺️ Free embed: wales.org/embed/
👾 Code: github.com/walesorg/wales-interactive-map
Happy to answer questions on the build, the partner-safe detection logic, the pin data sourcing, the WordPress integration, or anything else.
Cheers,
Nick
This looks amazing. This year we are going on a roadtrip to Scotland with our dog, but next year it might be Wales! Very interesting post!
Thanks Inge. That means a lot - Both excellent choices! Loads of trails, hikes and dog friendly places to choose from. When you decide to go to Wales, drop me a line with any questions and I'll happily share some great dog friendly places with you and enjoy Scotland, it's a beautiful country.
Hi Nick, thanks for sharing your project with the Travel Massive community.
It's fantastic to see a new open-source travel project so thoughtfully presented. As a developer I know how much effort went into preparing this for an open-source package, and to share it in the wild — so bravo!
Please keep us posted on any interesting forks or use-cases you see with your project. Perhaps someone makes a map of best coffee shops in Melbourne, or co-working and meeting places in Sofia (@maria-stoyanova). Or maybe a map of all the micronations in the world! (@global_gaz).
Perhaps to help non-technical folk, you could write some example prompts (e.g. for Claude, etc) to fork a new map and customise with the user's own co-ordinates or place set? This might get some faster adoption of the map.
And, this reminds me that I have not been to Wales yet. So, I need to visit!
Thanks Ian - I really appreciate the kind words and creating some prompts for ease of use is a great idea! I'll get on that now and will post them on here ASAP. Wales is a beautiful country, so keep it near the top of your places to visit next!
The below looks scary and long, but it's mainly prompt text that you copy and paste and few extra tips at the end.
How to Build Your Own Interactive Travel Map Using AI
No coding required — about 25 - 30 minutes start to finish
This guide shows you how to copy the open-source Wales.org interactive map and turn it into a map of your own region, on your own website. You don't need to know how to code. An AI assistant (ChatGPT or Claude) will do the hard work for you. I recommend using Claude, but your choice.
You just follow the steps.
What you'll need before you start:
A computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux)
A free ChatGPT or Claude account
A free Google account (for the Google Maps key)
A credit or debit card (for Google's free tier — you will not be charged, see Step 4)
A WordPress website where you'll display the map
About 30 minutes
Step 1: Download the map files
You'll start by getting a copy of the original map files onto your computer.
Open this link in your browser: github.com/walesorg/wales-interactive-map
Find the green button on the page that says Code (it has a small < symbol next to it). Click it.
A small menu will drop down. Click Download ZIP at the bottom of that menu.
The file will save to your computer's Downloads folder.
Find the ZIP file and double-click it to unzip (extract) it. You'll now have a regular folder.
Open the folder. The two files that matter are:
index.html — the part people see
map.js — the part that does the thinking
Keep this folder open. You'll come back to it.
Step 2: Install a proper text editor (very important)
You will be opening and editing code files. Do not use Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Apple TextEdit, or Notepad to do this. They secretly change straight quotes into curly "smart quotes", which instantly breaks code.
Install Visual Studio Code — it's free, works on Windows, Mac and Linux, and is what most professional developers use.
Go to code.visualstudio.com
Click the big blue download button (it auto-detects your operating system).
Open the file once it downloads and follow the prompts to install it.
Open VS Code once it's installed. You're done — you'll use it in later steps.
That's all the setup you need.
Step 3: Write down the places you want on your map
Open VS Code, click File then New File, and type out a list of every place you want to appear as a pin. It can be 5 places or 500 — your choice - you can even get Ai to put the list together for you.
Save the file somewhere easy to find (Desktop is fine) and call it my-places.txt.
Example list:
The Golden Lion Pub, Newport
Snowy Mountain Hiking Trail, Snowdonia
The Best Coffee Shop, Cardiff Main Street
Pembrokeshire Coastal Path
Tip: be as specific as possible. "The Golden Lion Pub, Newport, Wales" gets a better result than just "Golden Lion Pub" because there are dozens of pubs with that name.
Step 4: Get your free Google Maps key
AI is very clever, but it cannot accurately guess GPS coordinates. If you ask it where a local pub is, it might drop the pin in the middle of a field. To fix this, the AI uses Google Maps to find the exact address. To let it do that, you need a free "key" from Google.
Go to console.cloud.google.com
Sign in with your Google account.
At the top of the page, click Select a project, then New Project. Give it any name (for example: "My Travel Map") and click Create.
Once the project is created, use the search bar at the top and type Geocoding API. Click the result.
Click the blue Enable button.
In the left menu, click Credentials, then Create Credentials, then API Key.
Google will show you a long string of letters and numbers. This is your key. Copy it and paste it somewhere safe (a note on your computer is fine for now).
About the credit card: Google asks for a card to confirm you're a real person — this is to stop bots. You will not be charged for normal use. Google gives every account 10,000 free Geocoding requests every month. For most travel maps with a few hundred locations, you'll never come close to using up the free tier - I have nearly 2,000 locations on mine and did not come close to paying for it.
(continued in next comment — Part 2 of 4)
(Part 2 of 4 — continued from above)
Step 5: Use AI to turn your list into map pins
Now you'll ask the AI to take your simple text list and turn it into proper map data, with the correct GPS coordinates for every place.
Open ChatGPT (chatgpt.com) or Claude (claude.ai). A free account is fine.
Start a new chat.
Copy the prompt below. Fill in the two square-bracket sections with your Google key and your list of places. Then send it.
For the "Pick a sensible category (for example: Food & Drink, Hiking, Beaches, Castles, Accommodation, Family, Hidden Gem)" part of the prompt below you can change the examples to suit what you are looking for
Prompt to copy and paste:
I am building an interactive travel map and I do not know how to code, so please walk me through this clearly.
I have a list of places. I need their exact GPS coordinates and the result formatted as map pin data I can paste into a JavaScript file.
Please write a simple Python script that uses my free Google Maps Geocoding API key to find the rooftop latitude and longitude for every place on my list. Then run the script (or show me how to run it step by step) and give me the final result formatted as a JavaScript array, where every pin looks exactly like this example:
{"name": "Place Name", "lat": 51.5074, "lng": -0.1278, "category": "Food & Drink", "description": "A short description."}
For each place, please:
Pick a sensible category (for example: Food & Drink, Hiking, Beaches, Castles, Accommodation, Family, Hidden Gem)
Write a short, friendly one-sentence description
My Google API key is: [PASTE YOUR GOOGLE KEY HERE]
My list of places is: [PASTE YOUR LIST OF PLACES HERE]
What happens next: The AI will produce a neat block of JavaScript code with all your places and their exact GPS coordinates already filled in. Copy this block. Open VS Code, paste it into a new blank file, and save it as my-pins.txt on your Desktop. You'll use it in Step 7.
If the AI can't run the script itself, it will give you very clear copy-paste instructions to run it on your own computer — just follow them. If you get stuck, paste the error message straight back into the chat and the AI will fix it.
Step 6: Use AI to point the map at your region
The map is currently centred on Wales. You need to tell it to look at your region instead, and update the filter categories (Castles, Beaches, etc.) to suit your topic.
Open VS Code.
Click File then Open and choose the map.js file from the folder you unzipped in Step 1.
Once it's open, press Ctrl+A (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+A (Mac) to select all the text. Then press Ctrl+C or Cmd+C to copy it.
Open a new chat in ChatGPT or Claude (a fresh one — don't reuse the chat from Step 5).
Copy the prompt below, fill in the two bracket sections, paste your code at the end, and send.
Prompt to copy and paste:
Act as an expert web developer. I have the open-source code for an interactive travel map, and I want to repurpose it for a different region and topic. I do not know how to code, so please do the heavy lifting for me and explain anything I need to do in plain English.
My new target region is: [INSERT YOUR REGION — for example: Cornwall, England, or Melbourne, Australia]
My map's topic is: [INSERT YOUR TOPIC — for example: family days out, specialty coffee shops, dog-friendly walks]
Please do the following:
Find the part of the code that centres the map on Wales, and change the latitude, longitude and zoom level so the map opens centred on my region instead.
Update the filter categories so they match my topic (replace categories like Castles, Beaches and so on with ones that fit).
Delete all the original Wales map pin data so the pin list is completely empty and ready for my new pins.
Do not change the partner-safe iframe detection (the part with window.self !== window.top). That code keeps the map safe to embed on other websites, so it must stay exactly as it is.
Give me the full updated code back as one single block I can copy and paste, and tell me exactly where in the file my new pins from Step 5 should go.
Here is the original code: [PASTE ALL THE TEXT FROM map.js HERE]
What happens next: The AI will give you a brand-new version of the map.js code, ready for your region. Keep this chat open — you'll use it again in the next step.
(continued in next comment — Part 3 of 4)
(Part 3 of 4 — continued from above)
Step 7: Put it all together (let the AI do it)
Instead of editing the file by hand, ask the AI to give you the finished map.js with your pins already inside it. Go back to the same chat from Step 6 and send this:
Please take the updated map.js code you just gave me, paste my pins into the empty pin data section, and send me back the complete finished file as one single block of code I can copy and paste straight in. Do not leave any blanks for me to fill in.
Here are my pins: [PASTE YOUR PINS FROM STEP 5 HERE]
The AI will reply with the full, finished map.js. Now you just need to put it on your computer:
Open the map.js file in VS Code.
Click anywhere inside the file, then press Ctrl+A (Windows) or Cmd+A (Mac) to highlight everything.
Press Delete on your keyboard.
Copy the new code from the AI chat and paste it in.
Press Ctrl+S (Windows) or Cmd+S (Mac) to save.
Test it before going live: Open the folder you unzipped in Step 1 and double-click index.html. It will open in your web browser, and you should see your map with all your pins. Click a few to make sure the names and descriptions are right.
If anything looks wrong, take a screenshot, go back to the AI chat, describe what's wrong in plain English ("the pins aren't showing" or "the map is centred in the wrong place"), upload the screenshot and ask for a fixed version.
Step 8: Upload the map to your WordPress site
This is the easiest way to get your files onto your website without messing about with server logins.
Log in to your WordPress dashboard (usually at yourwebsite.com/wp-admin).
In the left menu, click Plugins then Add New.
In the search box, type File Manager (the popular one has a yellow folder icon and over a million installs).
Click Install Now, then click Activate.
A new item called WP File Manager will appear in your left menu. Click it.
You'll see a list of folders that make up your website. Right-click in an empty area and choose New Folder. Name it mymap (all lowercase, no spaces).
Double-click your new mymap folder to open it.
Drag the index.html and map.js files from your computer straight into the WP File Manager window. They'll upload automatically.
Step 9: Show the map to your readers
Now you'll embed the map into a page or blog post.
Open the WordPress page or post where you want the map to appear (or create a new one).
Click the + button to add a new block.
Search for Custom HTML and select it.
Paste the following code into the block, replacing yourwebsite.com with your actual domain:
<iframe src="yourwebsite.com/mymap/index.html"; width="100%" height="600px" style="border:none;" loading="lazy" title="Interactive map"</iframe
Click Preview (top right) to check it looks right.
When you're happy, click Publish or Update.
Visit the page on your live site. You should now see your fully working interactive map. Congratulations — you just built a working web app!
(continued in next comment — Part 4 of 4)
A few extra tips
Make it rank on Google: Add a short paragraph above and below the map explaining what the map shows, who it's for, and what people can do with it. This gives Google something to read and helps your page appear in search results. Include words people would actually search for (for example: "interactive map of family days out in Cornwall").
Make it work on phones: Most of your visitors will be on a phone. Open the page on your own phone and check the map loads, the pins are tappable, and the popups don't get cut off. If anything looks off, paste a screenshot into ChatGPT or Claude and ask for a fix.
Add affiliate links the right way: If you want to monetise the pins (with booking.com, Viator or any other affiliate), ask the AI in a new chat:
"In this map.js file, please add a professional looking affiliate link button that is perfectly sized inside each pin popup. The button should link to [your affiliate URL pattern] and only show on my own website — not when the map is embedded on partner sites."
Then paste your map.js code below the prompt.
The partner-safe detection built into the original code will keep affiliate links hidden when other sites embed your map.
If something breaks, don't panic: Open the AI chat where you built the file, paste in the error message or describe what's gone wrong in plain English, upload a screenshot and the AI will tell you exactly what to do. There is almost no problem at this scale you can't fix with one more prompt.
That's it. You've just built an interactive travel map without writing a single line of code yourself!
Putting this map on your website will improve dwell time and engagement signals. Your visitors will spend far longer clicking, filtering and exploring an interactive map than reading a static list. Google will read that extended time on the page and the lower bounce rate as a strong quality signal and will lift that page ranking over time....
If you have any questions or get stuck at any point please reach out and I will be more than happy to help.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to join us in Sydney for our [Travel Industry Social with Stripe](www.travelmassive.com/events/sydney-travel-massive-industry-social-with-stripe-1198285481) at [Little National Hotel](littlenationalhotel.com.au/sydney/) for a fantastic evening of travel industry conversations and networking.
We were joined by long time members as well as new attendees — including hoteliers, travel writers, travel tech professionals, and tourism marketing and event specialists. The rooftop space of Little National Hotel nestled among Sydney’s downtown provided the perfect backdrop for hospitality and travel conversations.
A massive thanks to [Stripe](stripe.com/au/industries/travel) for their continued support of the Sydney Travel Massive community and to [James Lemon](www.travelmassive.com/@james-lemon), Global Lead for Hospitality, Travel & High growth industries for joining us.
— See you at our next Sydney event!
Want to be part of events like this? Join the [Sydney Travel Massive](hwww.travelmassive.com/posts/sydney-travel-massive-137260029) community to stay updated on upcoming events, and contact [Sarah Rhodes](www.travelmassive.com/@sarah-rhodes) if you’d like to sponsor an event.
Thanks to everyone who attended and what a great evening! It was fantastic to meet new members and also catch up with some old friends who have been members for many years. Thanks again to Stripe for continuing to support the Travel Massive community in Australia and helping to keep innovators in the tourism and hospitality industry connected!
Really fantastic seeing everyone, we love the Little National and will be returning in September for another meet up. Our next event is in June, invite coming soon and hope to see you there!
Such a great evening of amazing connections again. Can't wait til the next one!
Great night! Can not wait for the next one x
thanks Paula, hope we'll see you in June :)
Great to see travel communities bringing tourism professionals together. Networking and collaboration are very important for the future of travel.
Thanks Elton, appreciate the support!
Hi Travel Massive community,
After months of building behind the scenes, we’re excited to be launching TrvlAtlas — a curated marketplace connecting travellers with premium, story-led experiences across Aotearoa New Zealand.
TrvlAtlas has been built with a simple focus: to showcase the very best local operators, while curating experiences that feel personal, story-led, and deeply connected to place.
We’re starting in New Zealand with a handpicked collection across adventure, nature, and wellness, from Milford Sound and Queenstown to Rotorua and beyond, with plans to expand across Australia and the South Pacific.
👉 We’d love for you to take a look at trvlatlas.com
What’s been most exciting for us is the early support from operators and partners who share this vision:
“We’re working with Nick and TrvlAtlas because we share common values, goals and aspirations. We see this as a partnership or travel community that’s all about making a difference.”
— Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa, Rotorua
"From our first conversations with TrvlAtlas, it was clear they genuinely care about connecting travellers with authentic, locally-led experiences. We chose to partner with them because their vision aligns closely with what we value at Cheeky Kiwi Travel; meaningful connections, responsible tourism, and showcasing destinations in a more authentic way. Their team has been incredibly supportive and collaborative from the start, and we believe TrvlAtlas brings a fresh, much-needed approach to the market by helping travellers discover high-quality experiences without losing the stories and identity behind each operator"
— Cheeky Kiwi Travel
If you're an operator, creator, or partner who aligns with what we're building, feel free to reach out - always open to connecting. Also please follow us on Instagram as we build momentum at instagram.com/@trvlatlas
Thanks for the support as we get TrvlAtlas off the ground!
Nick & Prue
Founders, TrvlAtlas
Congratulations, Nick! It was great to chat to you about this and great choice repping beautiful Aotearoa!
Thanks Casey, really appreciate it. Likewise, great to meet you and love to continue the conversation. Cheers
I've spent years working in Southeast Asian transport operations. I watched thousands of travelers struggle with the same things every day: wrong station names, outdated schedules copy-pasted across a dozen booking sites, fares marked up well above the actual price, and zero support in their language.
So in 2025 I built YesMyTrips from scratch. Solo. Bootstrapped. From Vietnam.
One platform that covers trains, buses and ferries across Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia, with schedules you can actually trust, transparent pricing from the start, and a booking flow available in 6 languages: English, French, Russian, Thai, Japanese and Korean.
A few things that make it different:
• The Bangkok–Chiang Mai overnight train is one of the most searched routes in Southeast Asia. Most booking sites still list Hua Lamphong as the departure station. It moved to Krung Thep Aphiwat in January 2023. I obsess over accuracy like that.
• Real-time availability and seat maps let travelers pick exactly where they sit before booking. And if anything goes wrong, there's a real human on WhatsApp, not a contact form.
• I also built a free embeddable train schedule widget that travel bloggers can add to their site in minutes: no iframe, no API key, no cost. It covers 790+ routes and automatically adapts to the language of the host site. A few dozen travel blogs across Europe and Asia are already running it.
I'm based in Ho Chi Minh City, member of EuroCham Vietnam and CCIF. Always happy to connect with travel bloggers, publishers and anyone building in the Southeast Asia transport space.
👉 Try it out at yesmytrips.com and please share your feedback!
sounds great will try it out once I make it there again :)
Thanks Philip! Curious what you're building at manyways.
Nice site—good luck with it. I’ll be in HCMC on Saturday (tomorrow) and if you’re up for an afternoon or evening coffee, let me know. Cheers
Thanks Stuart, would love to grab a coffee. I'm in HCMC, Saturday afternoon works well for me, D1 or wherever's easy for you. I'll DM you my number. Cheers, Max
60% of travelers are using AI search tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Gemini before they ever book — and most travel websites aren't showing up!
At Maya, we built a free AI Search Analysis for travel companies: share your website and get a report showing exactly how visible you are when travelers ask AI for recommendations, and what to do about it.
A one pager to get clarity on where you stand — and a roadmap to get found.
👉 Try it free at mayatravel.ai/free-ai-search-analysis-for-travel-companies
Happy to chat about results too and AI for travel 🎢🌍.
Really impressed by how detailed the report is, I wasn't expecting that depth from a free tool. Will go through it properly this week and see what's actionable on my side.
For reference, my scores came out at 75 / 70 / 80 / 75. Curious what range you typically see across the travel sites you've analysed, is that around average, or are there obvious gaps I should prioritise first?
Thanks for putting this together, Eimy.
Thanks for sharing! Really helpful tool for travel agencies, OTAs, DMCs etc. Already tested it out 👍🏼
Thanks for sharing - I've just downloaded the report. Agree that it's very detailed for a free report, nice work! My only feedback, is that 'loading time' that it takes before and after the email capture. It almost seems like the user has to wait for the report to generate twice? Would also love a 'save as PDF' feature for the report too :). Again, great work, much appreciated for the free tool
Hey Jake, happy to hear you also found it helpful and thanks for the feedback. Will be looking into that 😇
Just tried it, very interesting! It`s a bit more technical than my current skills, but I will read it carefully and pass it to my web developer so we can apply the suggested changes! Thank you for this!
Thanks to everyone who joined us in Melbourne for our [Travel Industry Social with Stripe](www.travelmassive.com/events/melbourne-travel-massive-industry-social-with-stripe-6247391482) at [Easey's rooftop bar](www.easeys.com.au) in Collingwood for an evening of travel industry networking and connections.
We had a great turnout with many new members joining us — including new and established travel media and journalists, tour operators, and travel tech founders. A highlight of the evening was visiting Easey's [rooftop train carriages](www.atlasobscura.com/places/easeys-rooftop-train-car-restaurant). Following decades of service carrying commuters on Melbourne's rail network, the carriages now seat restaurant patrons five stories above ground!
Thanks to [James Lemon](www.travelmassive.com/@james-lemon), Global Lead for Hospitality, Travel & High growth industries at [Stripe](stripe.com/au/industries/travel) for joining us and sharing his insights from last week's Stripe Sessions in San Francisco.
*Want to be part of events like this? Join the [Melbourne Travel Massive](www.travelmassive.com/posts/melbourne-travel-massive-258662400) community to stay updated on upcoming events — and reach out if you’d like to get involved or support a future event.*
Thanks to all our members for coming along (both old and new) and I hope everyone made some new connections in our wonderful travel community here in Melbourne.
A big thanks to Casey (@kckiwigirl) for helping us host the event at Easey's and for connecting our community with new media and journalists in town. And well done to @james-lemon for making it to Melbourne all the way from San Francisco the LONG WAY (via London and Singapore). That may be a record for longest way to get to a meetup.
I loved the graffiti artwork throughout the venue, it reminded me of our old co-working space in Berlin next door to Watergate in Kreuzberg!
PS: There's a Berlin easter egg in the photos... if you can spot it post a comment! 😉
An honour and privilege!! A cool space for an even cooler group of people!
Fab photos! Thank you, everyone, for coming out to play! We're blessed to work in such a wonderful industry.
Great event for connecting with Melbourne-based travel industry shakers and movers.
Lovvveeed meeting you IRL!!
Great to catch up with everyone once again, nice to see so many things happening in the community.
Thanks to @james-lemon, Casey (@kckiwigirl) for organising and a special extra big thanks to @Ian for not posting the photo with me with the stain on my shirt :S
Haha - it was great to meet you!
What an amazing event, and what amazing people attended! Thank you so much for the invite.
It was wonderful to meet you!!!
A traveler recently left us a review that stuck with me. He said the thing he liked most was that he could ask all his questions,- "however silly they may be."
That one line says more about what travelers actually need than any NPS score or star rating ever could.
Because think about it, when was the last time you asked a "silly" question on a 15-person walking tour? You don't. You stay quiet. You google it later. You move on.
That silence isn't a comfort problem. It's a trust problem.
After 10+ years of doing this across 300+ cities, I've realized the real product isn't the itinerary or the destination knowledge. It's creating a space where a grown adult feels safe enough to say "this might be a dumb question, but..."
That's when the real conversation starts. That's when someone asks how much you actually pay for rent here, or whether it's really safe to walk this street at night, or what locals actually think about tourists.
The stuff nobody asks in a group. The stuff that turns a tour into a conversation and a conversation into a memory.
What are you doing in your experiences to build that kind of trust, the kind where people stop filtering themselves?
Hey Vinita,
This really resonates.
I’ve seen the same thing. People don’t hold back because the question is silly, they hold back because they don’t feel comfortable enough.
For me, it starts with keeping things small and informal. No fixed script, no orchestrated conversations, no pressure to “perform.” Just a normal and easy interaction.
When travellers feel like they’re with a real person and not on a tour, they open up.
I also share honestly first. About life, culture, even the uncomfortable bits.
That usually breaks the barrier.
Once they see there’s no judgement, the “silly” questions naturally come out.
Hey Sayali, love this! That's such a powerful trust signal. We've seen the same thing with our locals, the ones who lead with their own honesty tend to get the most open, curious travelers in return. It almost gives people permission to stop being polite and start being real.
Absolutely, that “permission to be real” changes everything.
The moment it shifts from being polite to being honest, the whole experience deepens. People stop observing and actually start engaging.
I’ve also noticed travellers are genuinely curious about personal life.
How we live, think, and go about everyday things. I often indulge that curiosity and share openly, and that usually opens the door for even more honest conversations.
And like you said, when the local shows up as themselves, without a script, it creates that space for travellers to do the same.
When I worked as a tour guide, or when I`m tour leader with my groups, I always try to act like a friend who lives in the destination, sharing personal facts and asking them questions, to make sure they don`t feel like there`s a "rank" and I`m there to boss then around. Connecting on a more open, natural, human scale always helped me make my clients feel at ease and ask whatever they wanted, no matter how silly it was.
Ohh, I love this! This is the very essence of the purpose of a travel professional. For me, the moment of traveling should be one where everybody comes as strangers but ends up as friends. I always encourage my travelers to ask anything they would like, to take fun pics, to taste new ingredients and also I even play with them - like in throwing jokes and fun facts. At the end, I create a whatsapp group to remain in touch and in case they have more questions about where to go, I am there :)
HERE'S THE NEXT 5 UPCOMING EVENTS:
Hello Toronto Travel Massive community,
Please join us on May 14, 2026 for an exciting GigSky event. GigSky is a leading eSIM provider that solves one of travelers' biggest annoyances: staying connected while abroad without paying a fortune. GigSky would love to share some trends in data roaming, what customers use their phones for while away, and the next phase of their global partnership with Visa.
This event is for: Travel media and creators (journalists, reporters, bloggers, creators, influencers, YouTubers, podcasters) and travel advisors.
About GigSky
GigSky is the original eSIM travel data company and was a launch partner when Apple first unveiled this technology in 2018. As a mobile operator, GigSky provides travelers with unparalleled access across the globe (in over 200 countries and regions), at sea (on over 350 cruise ships and ferries), and in-flight (on over 22 airlines). Their global partnership with Visa also provides over 4 billion Visa cardholders worldwide with complimentary and discounted data as a card benefit. Learn more on www.gigsky.com.
⏰ Schedule of activities:
6:00 PM: Arrival and networking
7:30 PM: Presentation
8:15 PM: Giveaway winners announced
8:30 PM: Event ends
🎁 GigSky giveaway:
Win a $100 GigSky eSIM credit for your next international trip ✈️
Tell us where you’re taking your GigSky eSIM by sharing an Instagram story OR an IG feed post any time before 8 PM on May 14, 2026. Make sure to tag and follow @travelmassiveTO and @gigsky.esim + use hashtags #TravelMassiveToronto
T&C: The winner must be physically present at the event on May 14, 2026 to receive the reward.
💬 Join the conversation:
Travel Massive:
Instagram: @travelmassiveTO #TravelMassiveToronto for Travel Massive
GigSky:
Instagram: @gigsky.esim | Facebook: @GigSky
Youtube: www.youtube.com/@GigSky
🎟️ Event registration: there is a maximum capacity, so make sure to register. If there is a waitlist still sign-up in case someone is no longer able to come we will add people from the waitlist. In the meantime, please have a look at your Travel Massive profile and take a moment to make sure it is up to date.
👉 Please note:
* All guests must be registered to attend.
* Attendees must have completed profile to register, including a photo, bio, and links.
* No +1s please.
* Must be an active member of the travel industry to attend with an approved and updated profile on TravelMassive.com.
Make sure to describe what your role is in the travel industry and add associated social media and website links.
👉 Cancellations: If you are no longer able to attend, please try to release your ticket 48 hrs (2 days) before the event so others can attend. Thank you for understanding.
🚨As these events are limited capacity we have a 3-strike no show policy.
📸 This event will be photographed by a member of a Travel Massive team or/and our event partner.
Land acknowledgment
We wish to acknowledge the Ancestral Traditional Territories of the Ojibway, the Anishnabe and, in particular, the Mississauga’s of the New Credit whose territories we gather on. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties.
Link to event pageBuilding better human connections all over the world.
IMEX Frankfurt is where the global meetings, events and incentive travel industry comes together annually for the largest trade show of its kind in Europe.
Where 4,500-plus global meeting planners connect with 3,100 suppliers from across the world, building powerful working relationships—to create better events, meetings and experiences.
This is where you can walk through the world in a day, immerse yourself in the latest industry developments and ideas, and find yourself at the heart of the global business events community.
Talking Point: Design Matters
In 2026–2027, we’re making Design Matters our Talking Point. Because good design isn’t just good business—it’s how things work, feel and change us.
Design is the ultimate differentiator. It’s design that helps organizations, brands and events stand out and be remembered. So, we’re inviting the global events industry to embrace design as a business superpower. Because it matters.
Learn more at frankfurt.imexevents.com
Link to event pageLet's get ready for Summer and kick it off in style with an LA Travel Meetup.
Travel Massive, Travel With Meaning, and Wanderful will be the co-hosts for this event — meet with travel industry professionals, creators and like-minded travelers for a social evening at one of LA's best wine bars.
Join us to connect with with travel change-makers, hospitality brands, creators, and innovators reshaping the future of travel and tourism.
🍷 Venue: Offhand Wine Bar
📍 Location: 3008 Santa Monica Blvd , Santa Monica, CA 90404 (maps.app.goo.gl/Rp8WN3Vpj3dvdzPR7)
🗓️ Date: Tuesday, 19 May 2026
🕕 Time: 5:00pm - 8pm
👉 Spaces are limited, RSVP is essential
Street parking available, ride share encouraged!
Let’s toast to new journeys, great conversations, and unforgettable travel inspiration.
— See you soon!
Link to event pageWe’re excited to announce our next Edinburgh TravelTech meetup on 20th May, featuring an interactive session in collaboration with 80 Days.
Following the hugely popular session on Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) last year, this session will explore how the AI search landscape has continued to evolve and what that means for travel and tourism businesses looking to stay visible.
From AI Overviews and search agents to the increasingly non-linear traveller journey, we’ll cut through the noise and focus on what really matters. Expect practical, actionable strategies to help you get found in the age of AI-driven search, along with plenty of opportunity to ask questions and take part in the discussion.
Whether you joined us last time or are completely new to the topic, this session is designed to give you clear insights you can apply straight away.
Link to event pageMaximizing Content Opportunities During FIFA World Cup Games in Toronto.
Hello Toronto Travel Massive community,
FIFA World Cup 2026™ is more than a tournament; it’s a once-in-a-generation moment for Toronto. For Destination Toronto and its local creator community, the games present an opportunity to garner unprecedented global attention, attract diverse audiences, and take advantage of a massive surge in real-time digital engagement.
Game on, Toronto! is your backstage pass to making the most of it. Join industry insiders and top creators as they break down how to capture the energy, diversity, and global buzz of the city in real time - turning fleeting match-day moments into powerful, lasting content. You’ll walk away with practical strategies for navigating rights and brand alignment, plus insider tips on creating content that performs. Whether you’re looking to grow your audience, elevate your storytelling, or tap into the massive digital wave surrounding the games, this session will show you how to position yourself - and Toronto - at the centre of it all.
After the panel, join us for food, drinks, games and prizes to kick-off the soccer celebration!
This event is for: ACTIVE Travel media and creators (journalists, reporters, bloggers, creators, influencers, YouTubers, podcasters) and travel advisors.
Always join the waitlist.
About Destination Toronto
Toronto’s visitor economy is a vital economic engine for the city, with a record 28.2 million visitors generating over $9 billion in visitor spending in 2025. Destination Toronto’s purpose is to ignite the city’s visitor economy to enrich and empower its communities. Operating in partnership with the City of Toronto and the tourism and hospitality community, Destination Toronto promotes the city to attract visitors and major meetings and events, and supports local businesses in maximizing the opportunities of the visitor economy. For more information, please visit DestinationToronto.com.
⏰ Schedule of activities:
6:00 PM: Arrival
6:15 PM: Welcome and fireside chat
7:00 PM: Group migration to The National for sips, bites, and bowling
8:00 PM: Prize pack raffle
8:30 PM: Event ends
Fireside chat speakers:
Panel Moderator: Lauren Jerome (she/her)
Senior Content Manager, Creative Marketing, Destination Toronto
IG: @destination_toronto | LI: @lauren-jerome | www.destinationtoronto.com
Lauren Jerome is the Senior Content Manager, Creative Marketing at Destination Toronto, where she leads content strategy for major campaigns—including ongoing work with the City of Toronto on FIFA World Cup 2026.
With a background spanning editorial and agency, she brings a strong mix of storytelling instincts and platform-savvy thinking. Lauren is especially interested in the intersection of travel, events, and creator culture—and how real-time moments can be turned into content that connects.
Panellist: Will Tang (he/him)
Content Creator, Destination Toronto Ambassador
IG: @goingawesomeplaces | goingawesomeplaces.com | www.youtube.com/goingawesomeplaces
Will, formerly a Toronto Travel Massive Chapter Leader, is the content creator behind Going Awesome Places, an award-winning travel brand that focuses on outdoor adventure and experiential travel through his website, YouTube channel, and social media. He's also an ambassador for Destination Toronto with a huge passion for his home city teams and all things sports and outdoors.
Panellist: Marissa Anwar (she/her)
Content Creator, Destination Toronto Ambassador
IG: @Marissa.Anwar
Marissa Anwar is an award-winning writer, producer, and marketing executive with a career spanning travel media, tourism, and tech. The creator of Darling Escapes and a producer at DEMG, she has developed content and campaigns for some of the world's most recognized tourism brands and brings a sharp digital perspective to destination storytelling.
A former social strategist at Lonely Planet and proud Toronto native, Marissa serves as a Destination Toronto Social Ambassador, championing her city to audiences around the globe.
Panelist: Enrique Miguel Baniqued
Film producer
IG @enriquemiguel_ | explorerscontent.com
Enrique Miguel Baniqued is a Filipino-Canadian film and digital content producer based in Toronto. With a background in business and film production, he works across narrative and branded content with a global perspective.
In 2025, Enrique became the youngest producer nominated for a Canadian Academy Award for VILLAGE KEEPER, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and was released theatrically nationwide. Alongside his narrative work, he has captured on-the-ground content during major global events, including FIFA-related activations, and produced branded content for organizations such as Destination Toronto, NBA, NHL, UFC, Family Feud Canada, the JUNOS and more.
⏰ Event giveaway:
Prize 1 & 2: FIFA toque, FIFA tote, FIFA mini soccer ball, and FIFA water bottle.
Grand Prize: FIFA toque, FIFA tote, FIFA mini soccer ball, FIFA water bottle, FIFA full size soccer ball, Two tickets to the Toronto Tempo Sept 20 game against the New York Liberty in Destination Toronto's private suite
T&C: The winner must be physically present at the event on May 20, 2026 to receive the reward.
👏 Venue partners:
Wellington Event Venue
The Well sets the stage for meaningful experiences that draw people from near and far to Eat, Shop, Work, Live and Play. Designed for community engagement, the Wellington Event Venue boasts 5,038 sq. ft. of a dynamic space nestled within Wellington Market on the Lower Ground level.
‣ thewelltoronto.com/directory/wellington-event-venue/
‣ thewelltoronto.com
National at the Well
National offers best-in-class beer, incredible cocktails & a thoughtfully curated food menu alongside a full-service bowling alley and arcade.
💬 Join the conversation:
• Travel Massive: @travelmassiveTO #TravelMassiveToronto
• Destination Toronto: IG: @destination_toronto | TT: @destinationtoronto | FB: @destinationtoronto #SeeTorontoNow
• Wellington Event Venue at The Well: @thewell_to
• National at the Well: IG: @ntnltoronto | FB: National Toronto | TT: @ntnltoronto
🎟️ Event registration: there is a maximum capacity, so make sure to register. If there is a waitlist still sign-up in case someone is no longer able to come we will add people from the waitlist. In the meantime, please have a look at your Travel Massive profile and take a moment to make sure it is up to date.
👉 Please note:
* All guests must be registered to attend.
* Attendees must have completed profile to register, including a photo, bio, and links.
* No +1s please.
* Must be an active member of the travel industry to attend with an approved and updated profile on TravelMassive.com.
👉 Cancellations:
If you are no longer able to attend, please try to release your ticket 48 hrs (2 days) before the event so others can attend. Thank you for understanding.
🚨As these events are limited capacity we have a 3-strike no show policy.
📸 This event will be photographed by a member of a Travel Massive team or/and our event partner.
Land acknowledgment: We wish to acknowledge the Ancestral Traditional Territories of the Ojibway, the Anishnabe and, in particular, the Mississauga’s of the New Credit whose territories we gather on. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties.
Link to event pageA Travel Massive London evening of neon, gin, and game-changing ideas in Walthamstow.
The most interesting things in travel rarely happen in the most obvious places. So this time, neither do we.
Join Travel Massive for an unforgettable evening designed for travel industry leaders and influencers who want more than the usual central London networking circuit. We’re heading to Walthamstow where creativity, community, and new ideas collide.
The Experience:
This isn’t one venue. It’s a journey.
🪩 Stop 1: A Neon Wonderland
We kick things off at God’s Own Junkyard; a legendary, immersive space where vintage neon signs glow, art meets chaos, and conversation starts instantly. Drinks in hand, surrounded by electric colour, this is your first signal that tonight will be different.
🍸 Stop 2: London’s Best Gin Bar
Next, we head to Mother’s Ruin Gin Palace — named Time Out’s #1 gin bar in London. Expect exceptional drinks, a buzzing atmosphere, and the kind of relaxed setting where introductions turn into real connections.
❤️ Stop 3: Where Travel Gets Personal
Then for something truly special.
We step inside a Walthamstow home - an intimate setting for meaningful conversation to discover Hoppswap.
Hoppswap is reimagining how we travel:
• A global home-swapping community built on trust and shared interests.
• Discover local lives to swap into and match with people in 100+ cities.
• A way to travel more, spend less, and feel at home anywhere.
This is travel stripped back to what really matters: people, connection, and belonging.
Ready to experience a different side of London and a different kind of travel event?
Join us in Walthamstow. 👉 Reserve your place now (spaces are limited).
📍 Location: Starting at God's Own Junkyard: Ravenswood Industrial Estate Shernhall St, London E17 9HQ
🗓️ Date: Thursday, 21st May 2026
🕕 Time: Meet between 18:00 - 18:30. Finished by 21:30.
✅ Advance RSVP Required
A few more details...
Getting there: It takes an average of 16 minutes to travel from London Liverpool Street to Walthamstow Central by train. With the fastest services taking just 14 minutes.
Heading out after: And we'll probably end the evening The Raglan as featured in Time Outs top 50 pubs in London.
Questions about this event? Please email your event host: Matthew Gardiner, Director of Travel Massive London: matthew@travelmassive.com
Please note: when you register for this event (which must be done in advance) we will also be sharing your details with Hoppswap to facilitate the evening. There will also be photography at the event.
Link to event pageHere's the 10 latest classified ads:
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